Bandović calls for Olympiacos passion play

"Passion and the will to win" are the ingredients Božidar Bandović will be demanding from his Olympiacos FC players when they kick off their first knockout round tie at home against FC Girondins de Bordeaux on Tuesday. Visiting coach Laurent Blanc is certainly expecting a stern examination, but he promised that his charges will pose a serious attacking threat of their own.

Božidar Bandović, Olympiacos coachWe are playing at home and have our fans behind us. At this level all the teams have quality so we must be fully focused to achieve our goal of advancing to the quarter-finals. We need passion and the will to win to progress in the competition. We will look to exploit Bordeaux's weaknesses and build on our own strengths – everything will be decided by the details. We know Bordeaux's game. They are very capable, well-organised and have had the same coach for some time. They are a finely-tuned side and very dangerous. Bordeaux may be without Diarra but we are also missing players: one player doesn't make a team.

Laurent Blanc, Bordeaux coachAll matches are difficult at this level and it's one that Olympiacos are used to playing at. The press may say we are the favourites but both sides have an equal chance of going through, and don't forget that Olympiacos are playing at home in front of fervent supporters. They may have a new coach but the players are the same. There will be two games and I hope that after tomorrow's match we'll still have an equal chance – if not an even better one.

Olympiacos have many Latin American players. They are very dangerous but we're ready for the match. We expect a lot of pressure in the opening stages of the game but we must keep possession. An away goal is very important. We must regain our confidence as a team. We haven't come here to play defensively: that's not my philosophy.

• Vassilis Torosidis broke the deadlock on the rebound after Lomana LuaLua's penalty had been saved but it was not enough to earn Olympiacos a fourth successive win.

• Olympiacos are now within two points of leaders Panathinaikos FC, who lost 2-1 at PAOK FC on Sunday.

• Bordeaux were not in action as their scheduled league game at home to AJ Auxerre was postponed to allow them to prepare for the trip to Olympiacos. They remain three points clear at the top of Ligue 1.

• Last Wednesday, Wendel scored twice as they came from behind to win 4-1 at Lorient in the French League Cup semi-finals. The holders will face Olympique de Marseille in the Stade de France final on 27 March.

Background• Two years ago, after progressing beyond the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in nine years, Olympiacos drew 0-0 at home to Chelsea FC in the last 16 before losing 3-0 away. Their best run to date came in the 1998/99 season, when they reached the quarter-finals before bowing out to Juventus.

• Bordeaux, hoping to at least match their achievement in reaching the 1984/85 European Champion Clubs' Cup semi-finals, were the most successful side during the group stage with five wins and a draw. The only points dropped came in a 1-1 draw at Juventus on Matchday 1. With two goals conceded they also boasted the competition's best defensive record.

Team Ties• While a Manchester United FC player, Blanc scored the opener in a 3-2 win in Piraeus on 23 October 2002, his last goal in European competition. He also played in United's earlier 4-0 home victory as well as in the two games the previous season after the teams were again drawn in the same group, United winning 2-0 away and 3-0 at home.

• Blanc came up against Mellberg three times while at United, the Frenchman recording two wins and a draw against the Swede's Aston Villa FC.

Did you know?• Central defender Michalis Kapsis, a UEFA EURO 2004 winner with Greece, played for both clubs. He left AEK Athens FC to join Bordeaux immediately after his country's triumph in Portugal, playing 29 matches in Ligue 1 and moving to Olympiacos 12 months later. He now plays for Levadiakos FC.

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